Coyotes vision

K

K22-hornet

Well-known member
I am aware we covered a coyotes ability to see, or not see, various colors, on a different thread, but I thought I would relay an incident that happened to me at the end of pheasant season two weeks ago.

There were 5 of us pheasant hunting the last weekend of the Colorado season, and we were on public lands.

We stopped to take a break, and my son and grandson were wearing blaze orange hats and jackets, while the others wearing various camo jackets.

My son and grandson are sitting down about 20 feet from us, when a duck hunter, with a 2yo black lab, comes walking towards us. The lab looks at us camo-dressed people and come to visit us.

All of a sudden, the Lab starts barking and almost growling while staring towards my son and grandson. The Lab continues to bark at them when the duck hunter says dogs can't see blaze orange. Once they took their blaze coats off, the Lab settled down.

On the previous thread, a dog trainer said his dogs will run right over a blaze orange training bumper on snow, whereas they can frequently see a white bumper on the snow.

I've called in coyotes while wearing blaze and big game hunting, but I'd sure feel conspicuous wearing blaze orange to hunt daytime coyotes.

After seeing the Lab's reaction, blaze just might be a better 'camo' for coyotes than camo.
 
Yeah, I made a rookie mistake by buying orange bumpers when training my Lab. Thought I had a blind dog until consulting with those much smarter that told me to start out with white or black and white bumpers first, because they can’t see that orange.
I guess it would be the same for all K9’s.
 
I will speak of the white on white scenario of what a coyote can detect.

Being a spot/stalker for many decades. I'm primarily a prone shooter. I have shot coyotes off hand. But mostly while prone. As I've laid upon a hill top aiming. At a distant bedded, sitting or standing coyote. I've had my share prior to my shot. Pan to my direction. Many of those coyotes stopped panning around & just stared at me. I wore all white clothing from my head to my coverall cuffs, white gloves included. My rifle was also all white. Yet those coyotes stared at me. Knowing something was not right or out of place. They can detect the slightest of variation. Of white on white.

I will also add; Even though they did note the color variation. They did not instantly bolt. But just stared at me. I've had a few just walk further away from me.
 
Most all of my coyote calling is done in cattle country. Almost all of the coyotes around here are not very afraid of seeing us when we are laying prone or sitting low on the ground. Many times we have had coyotes see us move our rifles while laying prone and they will stop to look at us and that gives us a easy opportunity for a shot.

Many times I have seen coyotes from 500 to 1,000 yards away take off running when they see us standing up. But quite often they will see us low to the ground at 150 to 300 yards away and they won't run off.

Many years ago I hunted with a friend of mine that was color blind. It blew me away at how good he was at spotting deer, elk, pigs and coyotes without seeing any color.
 
derbyacresbob said:
Many years ago I hunted with a friend of mine that was color blind. It blew me away at how good he was at spotting deer, elk, pigs and coyotes without seeing any color.
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I have witnessed the same, Bob. A good friend that I used to hunt and run beagles with was color blind. He was useless on a blood trail but he could pick out sitting bunnies and deer like nobody I have ever known. I wish he was still around. He was a great guy.
 
derbyacresbob said:
Most all of my coyote calling is done in cattle country. Almost all of the coyotes around here are not very afraid of seeing us when we are laying prone or sitting low on the ground. Many times we have had coyotes see us move our rifles while laying prone and they will stop to look at us and that gives us a easy opportunity for a shot.

Many times I have seen coyotes from 500 to 1,000 yards away take off running when they see us standing up. But quite often they will see us low to the ground at 150 to 300 yards away and they won't run off.

Many years ago I hunted with a friend of mine that was color blind. It blew me away at how good he was at spotting deer, elk, pigs and coyotes without seeing any color.
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Interesting. It seems to me after reading your experiences. The different behaviors they learn. Are regional, based upon the different coyotes experiences.
 
I have about decided camo is for the hunter. I have seen videos of a guy in a Santa Suite daytime hunting coyotes. Given the crazy expense of camo, maybe just wear all black.
 
Pretty sure, or maybe I should say I "think" Gerry called in javelina in a Santa Suit and the internet turned that into calling coyotes and it's been true ever since.

- DAA
 
Unless you are really bad color blind it makes NO difference. We drive and read books. Animals have to navigate and get 'dinner' at night so their eye sight is different. If they can't smell/hear or see movement, they are safe.
 
DAA said:
Pretty sure, or maybe I should say I "think" Gerry called in javelina in a Santa Suit and the internet turned that into calling coyotes and it's been true ever since.

- DAA
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I think it was Gerry and it was in his last book that i saw it or a video he and Jay did.
 
derbyacresbob said:
Many times I have seen coyotes from 500 to 1,000 yards away take off running when they see us standing up.
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It's like they 'know' we can reach out from very far away.

I've watched deer keep an eye on coyotes that were 50-100 yards away. The deer were aware, but not frightened

Then I stand up at 200yds and the deer run away.

Is that 'reasoning' on their part?
 
K22-hornet said:
It's like they 'know' we can reach out from very far away.

I've watched deer keep an eye on coyotes that were 50-100 yards away. The deer were aware, but not frightened

Then I stand up at 200yds and the deer run away.

Is that 'reasoning' on their part?
Click to expand...
It could be you are just big and scary to wildlife...LOL
 
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